If you are thinking of getting your hands on one of these best drones under $300 such as Holy Stone HS700D Ophelia and Holy Stone HS720 GPS quadcopter. But you are torn between these two competing drones. This is why I created an in-depth compare guide to show the differences and advantages that both drones have to offer.
Holy Stone has been crafting high-quality drones since its first debut of HS170 Predator that took off almost four years ago. Over time, their drones lineup has become better with longer flight time, stronger performance, and of course, more features. It seems like Holy Stone is making the move to compete against DJI for the control of the market.
Although, in this comparison guide, we are going to talk about the specifications that each drone has. At the end of the Holy Stone HS700D Ophelia vs Holy Stone HS720 GPS drone, you will be able to make an informed decision. Without further ado, let’s find out which drone you should buy for yourself or as a present for your family member and friend.
Holy Stone HS700D Ophelia
First of all, the Holy Stone HS700D Ophelia is a recently upgraded quadcopter from its predecessor which featured extra flight time, better camera quality, and improved aerial performance. It is slightly bulky and heavier than some of these mini-sized drones such as DJI Spark and Potensic D88. But if you are serious about becoming a professional aerial photographer, you might as well want to pick up this drone first before you buy yourself a DJI Mavic 2 Pro / Mavic 2 Zoom.
Build and Design
The Holy Stone HS700D Ophelia weighs just a little bit over two lbs. Which means you need to register the drone with the Federal Aviation Administration. Unlike the new Holy Stone HS720 GPS drone, this quadcopter has a fixed body. That just makes it challenging for some of the users who would like a drone with flexible motor arms and a framework to store inside their traveling backpack or case for sake of ease.
While it is unfortunate that the design of Holy Stone HS700D Ophelia doesn’t offer a lot of flexibility that its counterpart does. It features a 2K HD camera that is mounted on a 1-axis gimbal stabilizer which delivers smooth professional-level footage. To sum it up, the HS700D Ophelia isn’t a great choice for those who want to carry a drone with them all the time to different states and countries for solo trips.
Flight Time
This quadcopter gets a big upgrade from its predecessor which only had 20 minutes of flight time. The new Holy Stone HS700D Ophelia now has a flight time up to 22 minutes. This is especially a nice upgrade because it allows you to stay in the air for a much longer time. Plus, you can use the extra flight time to enjoy the moments and capture special aerial shots that are otherwise not possible with short flight time drones. Of course, more flight time is always better.
Camera Quality
A drone with a good camera is always guaranteed to deliver stellar imaging quality. That being said, the Holy Stone HS700D Ophelia delivers stills and videos at 2048 x 1152 pixels. It also can record videos up to 30 frames per second. As I mentioned previously that this drone has the camera mounted on a 1-axis gimbal stabilizer which eliminates the vibration It is a good stepping stone in crafting an affordable camera drone without denting your bank account.
Features
The introduction of the on-board GPS module is a major feature upgrade that allows the Holy Stone HS700D Ophelia to perform advanced aerial modes. For instance, you can command this drone to perform Waypoint Mode, Orbit Mode, and Follow Me Mode. These intelligent flight modes are there to make flying much simpler by using preset flight paths. Additionally, you can keep track of the drone’s whereabouts throughout the flight sessions.
Price
Finally, the Holy Stone HS700D Ophelia comes with a price tag that is lower than what the Holy Stone HS720 GPS drone has. Which makes it quite an affordable option for first-time drone users who wants a really good drone to start with. Plus, the fact that HS700D Ophelia has a fixed body framework doesn’t bother them will make this quadcopter a good choice.
Customer Experience
The HS700D, like most drones by Holy Stone, is generally well-received for its price point. Those who bought the drone can’t help but gush over how this is one of the easiest drones to fly for beginner users. They love how the controls are smooth and the drone’s agility. It’s not too fast though to feel out of control. The only downfall most of them mention is that you are not able to adjust the camera in flight and has no power button on the drone itself.
Holy Stone HS720 GPS Drone
Build and Design
The new Holy Stone HS720 GPS drone took a unique approach that makes it unique. Thanks to its peculiar design, it features an easy to power-on button that keeps you in the loop of how much battery juice it has left inside. As well as this drone is crafted of durable material that makes it incredibly tough. You could even say it goes as far as the level of material quality that is used for DJI Mavic 2 Pro / Mavic 2 Zoom.
Flight Time
In contrast to the maximum flight time that HS700D Ophelia brings to the table, the HS720 GPS drone offers up to 26 minutes of flight time which is far superior compared to the majority of the drones. There are no drones that currently can compete against the amount of flight time that HS720 GPS drone has for less than $300. As of currently, this is one of the best drones with the insanely long flight time.
Camera Quality
If you thought that HS700D Ophelia is the best gadget in the camera drones category. You might want to reconsider that for a moment. While the HS720 GPS drone features the same specifications that Holy Stone HS700D Ophelia has. It has a minor advantage over its competitor due to built-in shock absorption. This means the camera is mounted on a 2-axis gimbal stabilizer that effectively minimizes the amount of vibration to a near zero. This results in smoother footage.
Features
Just like the Holy Stone HS700D Ophelia, the HS720 GPS drone comes with a bunch of amazing features like Orbit Mode, Follow Me Mode, and Smart Return to Home. All of these features are focused on making it easy for beginners and first-time users to learn how to fly. But most importantly, making it safer to fly these drones. Drones like Holy Stone HS720 GPS are integrated with low power alarm, out of range alarm, and wind velocity warning system that keeps you informed of the status for maximum safety.
Price
Combined with all of these specifications like long remote control distance up to a mile, similar to HS700D Ophelia and an impressive flight time up to 26 minutes. It is hard not to pass on the Holy Stone HS720 drone because of its amazing flight capabilities. In addition to that, it features a unique design that looks just like a clone of DJI Mavic Pro in some ways. Overall, we recommend the Holy Stone HS720 GPS drone.
Customer Experience
Drone users are happy with their purchase of the HS720 as well. Some have used it for more than eight months, preferring it over the HS700. It is the perfect drone for some as they’re happy with the solid yet compact build of the HS720. They don’t have to worry about windy conditions as well. Most users like how the remote control runs on 2 AA batteries, and it doesn’t need to be charged. The only minor thing they dislike is that you can see a small portion of the propellers in the video recordings.
HS700D Ophelia vs HS720 GPS Drone: Which One Should You Buy?
If you are still debating which one of these best camera drones you want to pick. Both HS700D Ophelia and HS720 GPS drones are a very good choice. Although, if you want the best of all, the Holy Stone HS720 GPS drone is a primer competitor that currently dominates the best drones under $300. So to recap what each drone have to offer, take a look below:
- Flight Time: 22 Minutes
- Remote Control Distance: 1 Mile
- Intelligent Flight Mode: Yes
- GPS Mode: Yes
- Foldable Motor Arms: No
- Foldable Propellers: No
- Camera Quality: 2K HD @ 30 FPS
- Gimbal Stabilizer: 1-Axis
- Flight Time: 26 Minutes
- Remote Control Distance: 1 Mile
- Intelligent Flight Mode: Yes
- GPS Mode: Yes
- Foldable Motor Arms: Yes
- Foldable Propellers: Yes
- Camera Quality: 2K HD @ 30 FPS
- Gimbal Stabilizer: 2-Axis
Now that you have all the information regarding these two top competing drones. Let us know which drone you are going to pick and share your views/thoughts with us. If you are completely new to drones and need somewhere to start your adventure. You can check-in by visiting our master guide list that contains a curated list of the best informative articles. We hope you found our compare guide about HS700D Ophelia vs HS720 GPS drone helpful and informative. Happy flying and fly smart!